Featuring Vancouver Island Singer/Songwriter Georgia Murray

Last week, I had the pleasure of interviewing Georgia Murray. She is a wonderful singer, and has a lot of talent. Georgia's voice is very beautiful, not to mention that she looks amazing on camera :)

She has appeared on Boston Legal, opened for many other artists, and much more! Additionally, she received a lot of press coverage when her song “We’ll Never Know” was stolen by Lee Hyori, South Korea’s number one pop sensation. Well, this is proof of a very popular saying: "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery".

I hope you enjoy my interview with Georgia :)


Image Credits:
Photographer: Justin Tyler Close
Hair/Makeup: Negar Hooshmand
Stylist: Deanna Palkowski

AVIVA: How long have you been singing?
GEORGIA MURRAY: I started singing before I was born, and I'll still be singing long after I'm gone.

AVIVA: What excites you about being a singer?
GM: I love the adrenaline rush I get from performing. I love connecting with an audience of people I don't know. Being on stage, the rush, the lights, the heat, the spontaneity of live performance and getting that immediate reaction from a crowd. You can rehearse your sack off, but it all comes down to the moment, and anything can happen. Everything stops, and it's all about the music.


Image Credits:
Photographer: Justin Tyler Close
Hair/Makeup: Negar Hooshmand
Stylist: Deanna Palkowski


AVIVA: Do you have any notable musicians that inspire/influence you; if so, who?
GM: I have very many and it's hard to pick just one. I would have to say that Lauryn Hill has been a major source of inspiration for me. The Miseducation is one of my all time favourite albums...she's raw and real, and that is my favourite thing about an artist. Same with dear old Amy. Amy Winehouse, in my opinion, is one of the most talented songwriters and vocalists ever. I love being able to learn about people through their lyrics. I love artists that let you in, that aren't afraid to show you their flails and screw ups. I'm so not into the glossy gloss, we're big ballin, bottle poppin, kinda shit. I need something real in order for me to connect. So that's how I try to write my songs.....autobiographically.


I'm a big fan of Lady Gaga as well. She found that sweet spot between hyper pop town, and real gut wrenching truth. She's so brilliant because she was able to market herself as this generation's epic pop monster, but she writes her own songs, plays the keys like a mother, she doesn't lip sync, and her content is moving and revealing....unlike so many of her predecessors. Generally, when you're a pop star, you're kind of a vessel for someone else's vision, at least that's how I perceive it. But Lady Gaga is her own deal, and that's why I love her. People may disagree, but I embrace art....and Lady Gaga is art.

Hip hop has also been a huge part of my life. Everything from J5 and Blackalicious, to Atmosphere and Hieroglyphics to the Roots and Tribe Called Quest....Jay Z, Kanye, The Fugees, Pharcyde...all so ill...all so influential.

And of course there's the classics. I grew up singing with my dad and he introduced me to Johnny Cash, Simon and Garfunkel, Gordon Lightfoot, Stan Rogers, John Prine...all incredible songwriters. All these people have influenced my music in one way or another.

Oh! And I gotta give props to my brother Fraser for giving me my first ever cassette tape! It was a Christmas present of Pearl Jam's Vs. album. It changed my life. Eddy Vedor, yes please.


Image Credits:
Photographer: Justin Tyler Close
Hair/Makeup: Negar Hooshmand
Stylist: Deanna Palkowski


AVIVA: What would you say has been your biggest accomplishment in your career?
GM: Hmmm....well, I've done some fun things. I've appeared on the ABC hit show Boston Legal as a lounge singer. David Kelly, the executive producer and head writer actually wrote a part specifically for me and I'd have to say that was pretty major. I got to sing for Candice Bergen, and she was great. I've also done a lot of anthem singing for the NHL and NBA. I performed the anthems for the Knicks and the Rangers in Madison Square Gardens, for the Canucks in GM Place and for the Predators in Nashville.
I was also invited to sing a private event for Warren Buffet in Wyoming, and that was super fun. I've opened for a lot of great performers, some of which I've really looked up to. Talib Kweli, KOS, Jurassic 5, Atmosphere, Shad and the Canadian Tenors amongst others.
So, its hard to choose one thing...they've all had a hand in shaping my career.


Image Credits:
Photographer: Justin Tyler Close
Hair/Makeup: Negar Hooshmand
Stylist: Deanna Palkowski



AVIVA: Do you have any funny/crazy/interesting short story related to your singing experience that you would like to share?
GM: Haha. When I was in grade 3 I had a solo in "Oh Come All Ye Faithfull" at our Christmas concert. No one in our school had sung a solo before and I convinced my teacher, along with the help of my friend Crystal Zwicker, that I could do it and it would be awesome. The big day came and I was so intensely nervous to perform. I had that feeling where you think you have to pee, but you don't actually have to, it's just the nerves. Anyway, the time came to sing my solo, and my teacher started playing the piano, and I missed my cue, so I had to start again. I came in on time the 2nd time around, made it through the first verse, and then something went very wrong. I don't know what happened, but I went completely blank and forgot all the words. Stunned, I stopped and said, "I can't do this anymore" and ran off the stage. At first it was just complete silence from the crowd, then they erupted into applause and I came back out and bowed and re joined the choir and finished the rest of the show. So much for my promise to my teacher about how awesome I would be.



AVIVA: How has singing helped you develop as an artist?
GM: I wasn't always a songwriter, I only started writing when I was about 17. My best friend Ashleigh Eymann was/is an amazing writer and a lot of my early writing influence came from her. For me, singing helped me develop as an artist because I was able to express myself, artistically, by songwriting. It's one thing to sing and perform, but it is another thing to sing and perform songs that you wrote. It adds a whole new level of excitement and fear and uncertainty to the performance. When they're your words, your thoughts, your deepest, darkest moments...it changes the performance from being about the voice to being about the person.

AVIVA: If time/money were no option, where would you like your career to go?
GM: I have no limits. I want to sing for the world.

AVIVA: Do you have any additional comments?
GM: I would like to thank my collaborator/producer/DJ D Whiz (aka Tony Day). He has been my main source of inspiration and we have been a team on this crazy musical journey. Hes an amazing drummer and producer and I'm so lucky to have him!! Also, big shouts to Fartie Artie!

You can check out more of Georgia on her Website, follow her on Twitter, Facebook, and Youtube :)


I wish Georgia all the best in her career.


Cheers!
Aviva